Published by Australian Academy of Science
Activity 6 | Prospect or suspect – uranium mining in Australia

The implications of nuclear-free zones within Australia

Some councils in Australia have declared their municipalities to be nuclear-free zones. This means that no nuclear material, excluding that used for nuclear medicine or industrial radiography, can be brought into or transported through the municipality.

1. If the federal government, in making policies for the whole country, decides that uranium mining (and the related transport of materials) is acceptable, should individual municipalities be allowed to interfere with these policies?

2. What would happen if every council in Australia declared its shire or municipality to be a nuclear-free zone?

3. Imagine you live in a municipality that is not a nuclear-free zone and the federal government is proposing to build a transport depot for yellow cake near your town. Write a letter to the minister responsible for the decision, explaining your attitude to the proposal.

Teachers notes

These questions are important as a means of encouraging informed discussion. Students can be encouraged to find answers to questions that arise during their discussion (eg, the amount of risk if a semi-trailer carrying yellow cake loses its load in a traffic accident).